Linux Kernel up to 6.6.151/6.12.103/6.18.44/7.1.8 mac802154 mac802154_beacon_worker use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.86-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.151/6.12.103/6.18.44/7.1.8. It has been rated as very critical. Impacted is the function mac802154_beacon_worker of the component mac802154. Performing a manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-74661. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.151/6.12.103/6.18.44/7.1.8. This affects the function mac802154_beacon_worker of the component mac802154. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mac802154: fix netdev use-after-free in beacon worker mac802154_beacon_worker() reads local->beacon_req under RCU and derives the sub-interface from the request, but then drops the RCU read lock and continues to use both sdata and the embedded wpan_dev. mac802154_stop_beacons_locked() cancels only pending beacon work, clears local->beacon_req and frees the request. A beacon worker that is already running can therefore continue after interface teardown and dereference the freed netdev private area. The scan worker already pins the netdev before leaving RCU. Apply the same lifetime rule to the beacon worker: take a netdev reference while the request is still protected by RCU, and release it on all paths that continue after the reference is acquired.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-74661 since 08/15/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/22/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.6.152, 6.12.104, 6.18.45 or 7.1.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch fe820dcc1d8ff77783a9d2bcc93b98c99ac6d517/e5fb0e03bc7f45508c182a427357bf6b389a9033/e6cd416a899edc912b428c4ba399bd73f516cb31/9d067e581597c462c51fee8a30b51bc48a68c4e1/5f26a690e8efa54315e4922368daf54e0b8f5515 is able to eliminate this problem.

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

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Name

Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.152/6.12.104/6.18.45/7.1.9
Patch: fe820dcc1d8ff77783a9d2bcc93b98c99ac6d517/e5fb0e03bc7f45508c182a427357bf6b389a9033/e6cd416a899edc912b428c4ba399bd73f516cb31/9d067e581597c462c51fee8a30b51bc48a68c4e1/5f26a690e8efa54315e4922368daf54e0b8f5515

Timelineinfo

08/15/2026 CVE reserved
08/22/2026 +7 days Advisory disclosed
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-74661 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74661
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-394443

Entryinfo

Created: 08/22/2026 18:43
Changes: 08/22/2026 18:43 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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